As midfield reinforcements arrive at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick’s tactical shift reveals a homegrown solution. Discover how the youngster is evolving into the elite deep-lying playmaker United crave.
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This summer, Manchester United have been searching for a Casemiro replacement after the Brazilian left the club at the end of the last term. United were looking for a new midfielder last summer, too, but chose not to move on Carlos Baleba, instead signing Senne Lammens and Benjamin Šeško.
Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans are the two midfielders who have moved to Old Trafford so far. A third midfielder could still join the club, although it does not appear as certain now as it was earlier in the window.
While Tielemans is yet to make his debut for Manchester United, he could feature against Paris Saint-Germain this weekend. He could be joined by Matheus Cunha, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Noussair Mazraoui, who returned to Carrington on Monday.
Santos has already played for Michael Carrick's side, and he has been very impressive. Alongside Mason Mount, Santos has looked like an assured midfielder, capable of keeping possession and playing it safe, or passing through the lines to find his more advanced teammates.
The position Santos has played is quite interesting, though. The Brazilian often finds himself dropping into the space between Ayden Heaven and Harry Maguire, almost acting as a conductor while United retain possession. In other words, he has been playing as the six (the deepest midfielder).
United have been looking for a solution to that position for some time, even before Casemiro's time at Old Trafford. But they already have their solution, and his name is Kobbie Mainoo.
Mainoo's evolution under Michael Carrick
When Michael Carrick first replaced Rúben Amorim, Casemiro played as the deepest midfielder, with Mainoo given a slightly more advanced role alongside him. But before Carrick arrived at Old Trafford, he told Rio Ferdinand he believed Mainoo was more of an attacker.
"I think he's more of an attacker. I don't see him as a holding midfielder," Carrick said on Ferdinand's podcast. "I think he's probably that line above with that little bit more freedom."
But as the season went on, Mainoo began to drop deeper.
When Casemiro was unavailable against Sunderland and Brighton, Carrick chose to play Mason Mount alongside Mainoo in central midfield, rather than Manuel Ugarte. Mainoo became the six, and Mount became the box-to-box player. The 21-year-old proved he could dictate from deep, while still showing his flair in the final third.
That has continued in pre-season, but Andrey Santos has played as deepest midfielder instead of Mainoo. The two former Chelsea players have formed a good partnership in central midfield, with Mount saying he's enjoying his new role.
"I think defensively as well, we're both players that want to get around it, want to put tackles in and win the ball back and be aggressive," he said.
"So I've really enjoyed it. It's a position that I've played for many, many years from a young age, so I'm used to that in there. It's a position that I love and that I see myself in."
Tielemans will only have three chances to force his way into the starting lineup, and Mainoo will only have two. But the latter's end of the season under Carrick could give him the edge over the two new signings.
Manchester United remain in the hunt for a new striker signing before the end of the transfer window, although they are keeping Benjamin Šeško in mind.roundtable.ioMan Utd's Striker Stance Revealed After Ollie Watkins Interest
Manchester United remain in the hunt for a new striker signing before the end of the transfer window, although they are keeping Benjamin Šeško in mind.
Mainoo is Carrick's six
Everything Santos has been praised for in pre-season is things Mainoo does every game. The simple passes to keep the ball ticking, the passes through the lines, dropping in between the defenders, combining with his midfield partner, that is Mainoo all over.
But Mainoo has more. He can dribble to progress the ball, he can evade pressure with ease, he has developed a longer pass to switch the play, and he no longer struggles to cover ground without the ball.
Santos is not a bad player by any means – in fact, he seems like quite the coup – but he's not Kobbie Mainoo.
The England international may not start against Hull City in the first match of the Premier League campaign, but if United do not sign a out-and-out defensive midfielder, Mainoo should be given that responsibility.